cold clothes

-

"Xiao Yi, you'll be living here from now on."

"Ningbi, you will be living here from now on."

Yunmei's words unexpectedly overlapped with her mother's, leaving Leng Yi dazed. After regaining her senses, she gave Yunmei a sweet smile.

Leng Yi's room was arranged next to Yun Mei's bedroom, and the room had already been tidied up. The moment Leng Yi stepped into the room, she had a feeling of déjà vu, just like the first day she arrived at her stepfather's house. Suddenly, a chill ran through Leng Yi's heart, as if some nightmare was about to end.

Leng Yi was raised by her grandparents from a young age. Her parents worked away from home, and she only saw them three times a year. Even when they did meet, there were no warm memories; her parents seemed to be constantly arguing about daily necessities. When Leng Yi was in sixth grade, her parents finally divorced, and her mother took her away. She didn't understand what had happened, but she felt that her grandparents had become terrifying that day, ruthlessly driving her and her mother away while cursing the mistress and her daughter.

When she arrived at her stepfather's villa, her stepfather's imposing demeanor and her stepbrother's hostile gaze frightened her.

"Lengyi, from now on, treat this place as your home."

"Get out of here, you're not my real sister."

"Who do you think you are, some rich heiress? You got all that by sleeping with your mother! You're shameless!"

Like mother, like daughter!

Like mother, like daughter...

Yes, she spent her entire life trying to escape that shadow, only to be reborn onto a path even more wretched than her mother's. If she hadn't been so impulsive, perhaps...

Leng Yi clenched her fists instantly, her eyes flashing with determination. She would never truly become a prostitute! She had to escape!

A month passed in the blink of an eye, and Leng Yi gradually became familiar with the people and things at Fengxiang Pavilion. The manager of Fengxiang Pavilion was Mama Hu, but the real owner behind the scenes was someone else. As the premier brothel in the capital, Fengxiang Pavilion selected four top courtesans every five years. These four courtesans were all exceptionally beautiful and talented, attracting the attention of high-ranking officials and nobles. The current four top courtesans were Qingchun, Liuxia, Yunqiu, and Nuandong. Leng Yi had seen them a few times from afar; they were truly beautiful, surrounded by numerous maids, like stars around the moon, resembling the young ladies described in *Dream of the Red Chamber*.

The girls at Fengxiang Pavilion are divided into three classes. Third-class girls are maids like Lingcao, who generally don't entertain guests unless chosen by a customer or punished—the consequences of which are... well, you can imagine. Second-class girls are like Yunmei, who serve guests in the front hall every night; if they are lucky enough to be favored by a patron, they may serve only one guest. First-class girls are the four most beautiful courtesans, their red silk and jade ornaments carpeting the floor; a smile from one of their beauty is worth a thousand pieces of gold, not to mention that a single night of passion can bankrupt a man.

Leng Yi is currently learning basic needlework and calligraphy from Yun Mei. When Yun Mei isn't around, she loves spending time in the kitchen with Ling Cao making delicious food. As a result, Leng Yi has become quite chubby and healthy over the past month, with big, bright blue eyes that everyone finds adorable. Right now, Leng Yi is helping the aunties roll out dough in the kitchen.

"Xiao Ning, stop rolling out the dough for now. Help Aunt Chu and Xiang Yu deliver their meals to Zhuoyu Pavilion." Aunt Chu, who was extremely busy, called out to Leng Yi for help.

"Alright!" Leng Yi replied crisply, picked up the lunchbox, and followed Aunt Chu and Xiangyu to Zhuoyu Pavilion.

Zhuoyu Pavilion is the innermost pavilion of Fengxiang Tower, with a deep and secluded courtyard. The next courtesan is hidden in this secluded chamber. Madam Hu personally selected four young girls to be placed in Zhuoyu Pavilion for rigorous training. As far as Lengyi knows, they practice dancing, playing the zither, and learning to read every day. Lengyi is very likely to become the fifth girl in Zhuoyu Pavilion, as long as her body recovers sufficiently.

Upon seeing Aunt Chu and the others arrive, the four girls immediately stopped training, revealed relaxed smiles, and surrounded them like eager baby birds.

"Aunt Chu, Sister Xiangyu, what are we having for dinner today?" A clear, melodious voice rang out, and a girl in green stared intently at the food box with her bright, watery eyes, looking utterly drooling. She was incredibly lively and adorable. This girl, named Weifeng, was the most active and energetic of the four girls, and also the most gluttonous. As soon as Aunt Chu set the dishes on the table, she picked up a piece of fish and popped it into her mouth, prompting Aunt Chu to quickly tell her to be careful of the fish bones.

The other three girls were much more refined. Leng Yi looked rather amusing in the breeze, but then she unexpectedly met a pair of hostile almond-shaped eyes.

It was Xia Hua. Although the four girls were around ten years old and still had baby fat, making them all quite adorable, Xia Hua had the most beautiful features among them. It was expected that she would grow up to be the most beautiful girl, and Madam Hu had high hopes for her. Matching her striking beauty was her arrogant and conceited nature. She was certain that she would become the top courtesan in five years, the most beautiful woman in the entire capital, and harbored great hostility towards Leng Yi, believing she would compete with the other four for the title.

Leng Yi could understand Xia Hua's thoughts, after all, she had come to Fengxiang Pavilion by force. However, Xia Hua's precociousness surprised her. She seemed to be only nine years old, while Leng Yi was about the same age.

Of the four girls, Lengyi liked Nongyue the most. Nongyue had willow-leaf eyebrows and phoenix eyes, a somewhat heroic appearance, but also a gentle and elegant temperament, like a pampered little princess, completely out of place in a brothel. She wondered how Nongyue had come to Fengxiang Pavilion. Nongyue noticed Lengyi looking at her, so she smiled gently at her, picked up a slice of lotus root and fed it to Lengyi, "Try this, it's very refreshing and delicious."

Leng Yi happily opened her mouth and ate, but Xia Hua snorted unhappily.

After delivering the meal, Leng Yi left Zhuoyu Pavilion with Aunt Chu and Sister Xiangyu. Instead of returning to the kitchen, Leng Yi went to Doctor Xie to get the medicine for her treatment. At the same time, she also wanted to get some medicine for Sister Yunmei's headache, as Sister Yunmei said that she had been having headaches for the past few days.

When Leng Yi arrived at the pharmacy, she found the doors and windows closed. She called out to Doctor Xie twice, but no one answered. She found this strange, but her medicine package was already placed at the door, so Leng Yi could only take her medicine and go back.

Back at the second-class lady's residence, Warm Breeze Pavilion, Lengyi could hear Lingcao's happy laughter from afar. Curious, Lengyi pushed open the door, and as soon as Lingcao saw her return, she couldn't wait to say, "Miss Yunmei has been won over by the Vice Minister of Works, Lord Liangshu Yun! That's wonderful!"

Lingcao was so excited that Yunmei's eyes and brows also showed a smile. Lengyi sincerely said, "Congratulations, Sister Yunmei."

This way, Yunmei wouldn't have to go to the front courtyard every night to serve the guests.

But she was too naive. That very night, guests broke into the backyard and caused trouble. Leng Yi wanted to go out and see what was going on, but Yun Mei stopped her. Leng Yi's special eyes could not be easily revealed to others, lest they attract covetousness.

The troublemaker was Zhao Yuncheng, the third son of the Yong'an Marquis's family, who specifically requested Yunmei's company that night. When Yunmei refused to come, he forced his way in. The Yong'an Marquis was someone even the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works couldn't afford to offend, so how could a small Fengxiang Pavilion dare to defy him?

Several burly men disturbed the backyard, which was like a dreamlike fairyland. All the young ladies hid, except for Yun Mei, who stepped out gracefully and stood before Young Master Zhao, holding a pipa.

"This humble servant, Yunmei, has met Young Master Zhao. I am fortunate to have gained your favor. How about I play a piece for you tonight?"

Zhao Yuncheng was captivated by Yun Mei's beauty. His eyes lit up, and he smiled, saying, "Good, very good. I want you to play all night." With that, he put his arm around Yun Mei's waist and returned to the front courtyard private room.